Violence Strikes Baghdad Market Filled with Eid Shoppers

Despite increases
in security for the Eid
al-Adha holiday, at least 11 Iraqis were killed and 32 more were wounded
in today’s violence. The worst attack took place at a market in Baghdad that
has been the scene of numerous attacks during prayer days and other religious
observances.

In Baghdad, four
bombs exploded at the al-Arabi Souk in Shorjah, killing
at least 10 people and wounding
as many as 29 more. Many of the victims were there buying essentials for
the Eid al-Adha festival. The four bombs were planted in different locations
within the large, ancient marketplace. Apparently, the bombers also used gasoline
to set off a fire
that spread to an adjacent commercial building and created a dark plume of
smoke over the city.

The Eid al-Adha holiday began today for Sunnis and begins
tomorrow for Shi’ites. Whether the bombs were targeting one group or the other
is unclear, but they did take advantage of a crowded holiday market for
creating mayhem.